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Archive for May 6th, 2012

But the report said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) sought to allay fears the supermoon may cause calamities, saying there is no evidence to back such fears.

A separate article on Space.com said the moon will officially become full at 11:35 p.m. EDT Saturday (11:35 a.m. in Manila).

“The moon will swing in 221,802 miles (356,955 kilometers) from our planet, offering skywatchers a spectacular view of an extra-big, extra-bright moon, nicknamed a supermoon,” it said.

It added this month’s perigee is the closest of any perigee in 2012 – perigees vary by about three percent since the moon’s orbit is not perfectly circular.

“The result will be a 16 percent brighter-than-average full moon accompanied by unusually high and low tides this weekend and into the new week,” Space.com said. — LBG, GMA News

Chinese government is claiming the Panatag Shoal but the truth, the area is from Philippines. We not allowed the government of china to conquer the territory of the Philippines. The Government of the Philippines a need help to defend our nation again china. we admit that Philippine don’t have capacity to fight chine alone that’s why US Government help Philippines. I’m calling to all country to help and support Philippines to fight the right freedom and did not afraid to the communist of china .

TO BUILD A CREDIBLE DEFENSE FORCE
Phl needs 48 fighter jets, 6 mini submarines –
The Philippines needs up to four squadrons (48) of upgraded Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, more well-armed frigates and corvette-size, fast to surface combatant vessels and minesweepers and four to six mini submarines, possibly obtained from Russia, to build a credible defense force in the face of China’s increasing belligerence in the South China Sea, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) said.

With a standoff between Philippine and Chinese ships under way in a disputed corner of the South China Sea, senior leaders from the United States and the Philippines have reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to mutual defense.

“We oppose the threat or use of force by any party to advance its claim,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said after the meeting Monday in Washington. “And we will remain in close contact with our ally, the Philippines.”

Mrs. Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met with their Philippine counterparts, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. They discussed broadening their military alliance as well as expanding economic and cultural ties, though no specific new initiatives were announced.

The meeting took place as the standoff in the South China Sea entered its fourth week. Since April 8, maritime vessels from China and the Philippines have been stationed at Scarborough Shoal, a disputed string of rock outcroppings about 200 kilometers, or 125 miles, west of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines. Both countries claim the area and have demanded that the other leave.

Diplomatic negotiations are under way to resolve the standoff at the shoal, and both sides say they are trying to calm the situation. Still, belligerent rhetoric has continued in both Manila and Beijing.

The Philippine government has accused China of “bullying” its vessels in the disputed area by making aggressive maneuvers, and Manila lawmakers have called on the country to stand its ground. Late last week, a Chinese general wrote in an online commentary that his government should be open to taking military action. “Considering the relative military strengths of China and the Philippines, the Filipino people can judge for themselves the wisdom or otherwise of their government’s decision to take this stand against China,” Maj. Gen. Luo Yuan wrote.

At the meeting in Washington, Mr. del Rosario said his country was seeking the help of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resolve the standoff. The association has been largely silent on the issue. The Philippines is also seeking United Nations mediation in the dispute, but China opposes that option.

When asked whether the United States would come to the aid of the Philippines if it were attacked at Scarborough Shoal, Mr. del Rosario responded: “They have expressed that they will honor their obligations under the mutual defense treaty.”

The treaty obligates the two nations to defend each another in the case of attack, although it is not clear how that might be applied in a disputed area.

Discussions of broader military cooperation have been under way since last year, when the administration of President Barack Obama announced a strategic “pivot” toward the Asia-Pacific region. In November, Mrs. Clinton visited Manila and proclaimed continued American military support from the deck of a warship.

The discussions on Monday were the highest-level talks between the two countries since those developments.

Any expansion of the American military presence in the Philippines, a former American colony, would be controversial. The Philippine government forced the United States to close its military bases in the country in 1992, and any suggestion that the return of permanent American facilities is being considered remains highly sensitive.

Mr. Gazmin appeared to acknowledge this after the meeting Monday. “We are also mindful that our efforts to further our alliance need to be in full consideration of our respective national laws and political context,” he said.

By FLOYD WHALEY

Filipinos around the world are gearing up for a mass action against China.

The U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance is calling on Filipinos to mount demonstrations in front of Chinese embassies and consulates at noon on May 11 in protest of China’s bullying over the Scarborough Shoal.

“I’m calling on global Pinoys who are concerned about this intrusion of China… let’s stand up and show up on Friday May 11,” said Loida Nicolas Lewis, National Chairperson for the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance, on “Mornings@ANC”.

“International opinion may make them realize they’re not a good citizen.”

Lewis insisted China has no right to intrude into the Philippines’ territorial boundaries and should subject itself to the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or ITLOS.

Lewis said they hope the show of force on Friday will pressure China to stop its overt action and instead seek a peaceful resolution over the Scarborough dispute before the international court.

“The international family of nations should see that this big wannabe superpower China is not following the law. They are in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), they are in violation of the convention on international trade of endangered species and the international law regarding who has control over property or real estate,” she said.

Protests in Manila will take place outside the World Center on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

Protests are also set in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as Toronto and Vancouver, Canada and Sydney, Australia, while talks are also ongoing for the participation of Filipinos in Rome, Italy, Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong.

Lewis said China continues to disrespect the territorial rights of other nations especially the Philippines.

China has repeatedly turned a deaf ear to calls by the Philippine government to bring the question on the ownership of Scarborough before the international court.

Lewis said the Philippines has effective jurisdiction over Panatag Shoal or the Bajo de Masinloc, an area off Zambales rich in oil and mineral deposits, since 1973 and 1801.

Chinese officials have also called for decisive actions against the Philippines to resolve the territorial dispute in the area. The impasse over Scarborough began three weeks ago after Chinese vessels were discovered poaching in the area. The Philippines has since sent vessels to assert its sovereignty over the area.

At the first 2+2 meeting between the United States and the Philippines on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, America supports a diplomatic resolution to the territorial dispute but is against any use of threat or force.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said, the U.S. vowed to support the Philippines when it brings the Scarborough dispute to international legal bodies.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said, the Philippines is pursuing a three-track approach to the Scarborough shoal dispute: a political track which will put together a code of conduct under the ASEAN framework, a legal track which will use dispute settlement mechanisms under the UNCLOS, and a diplomatic track, which involves consultations with China to defuse the tension.

“China has no right over the Spratly Islands in West Philippine Sea because that is part of our ancestral domain, including the marine territory around it and the waters around these islands reefs and shoals.